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Background: The usefulness of the concentration of salivary 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHPRG) in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia by partial deficiency of 21-hydroxylase was studied. As a biologic medium, saliva has important advantages such as facility in sample collection and the avoidance of the stress of venous puncture., Methods: Salivary 17-OHPRG was measured by a direct solid phase radioimmunoassay. A control group made up of 28 males and 26 females was studied. The group of patients included 30 women, 10 of them with a previous diagnosis of partial deficit of 21-hydroxylase. Basal values were established in the control group and were compared with those found in the patients in whom a stimulation test with adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was performed collecting blood and saliva samples., Results: The levels of 17-OHPRG observed in the patients with partial deficiency of 21-hydroxylase were significantly higher than those found in the control group and in the group with hirsutism, including both basal levels and those following stimulation. The correlation between the values found in blood and saliva was very significant., Conclusions: The measure of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in saliva by a method of direct radioimmunoassay is a valid alternative test to serum measure in both basal conditions and following a stimulation test.

Testosterone concentrations in saliva were measured in 13 patients with prostatic carcinoma after surgical or medical (diethylstilboestrol or Estracyt) orchiectomy. The salivary testosterone values in these patients were significantly lower than in normal males but not significantly different from those in normal females. The salivary testosterone concentrations were measured for 6 consecutive months and did not vary significantly from month to month. The results suggest that the measurement of salivary testosterone concentrations could be useful in evaluating the androgenic function of patients with prostatic carcinoma after medical or surgical orchiectomy.